Training Pack Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 CONTENTS Welcome page 3 Mission statement 4 Our promise to you 5 Impact statement 6 Prison Libraries Group committee 7 Local directory 8 Other local information 10 Induction & training for prison library staff 12 Categories of prisoners 14 Categories of prisons 15 Safety and Security 16 Prison jargon and abbreviations 18 Health and safety 21 Professional conduct 22 Prisoner behaviour in the library 24 The Prison Service instruction system 25 Service level agreement 26 Inspections and audits 27 Management of equality 29 Working with the Offender Management Unit 32 Communications, Information and ICT 34 Governor’s adjudications 36 HM Prison and Probation Service 38 HM Prison Service 40 Some sensitive issues 41 Reader development 45 Library promotion 47 © Cilip Prison Libraries Group 2018 2 Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 WELCOME TO THE PRISON LIBRARIES TRAINING PACK This pack has been produced by the Prison Libraries Group, a member network of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and is primarily aimed at people new to prison library work. Providing a library service in the secure environment of a prison is not an easy job, and we hope that this pack will help to de-mystify some of the jargon and procedures you are likely to encounter in prisons. It is not intended to be a substitute for formal training which should be provided by your prison establishment and your employer, but rather a guide to some of the most common situations you may come across in prison libraries. The pack is compiled by the committee of the Prison Libraries Group, most of whom are experienced prison librarians. The pack is regularly updated and ideas for future coverage are very welcome. Sue Wilkinson FCLIP MBE FRSA Chair, CILIP Prison Libraries Group Please note: this pack is regularly updated to keep up with changes in procedures and policies. The most up to date version is on the PrLG website. Please be aware that things can change very quickly in prisons, and it is not always possible to amend the pack instantly. It is also worth noting that there are often local variations in policies and procedures. Procedures in privately run prisons may differ from those in the public sector. If you are unsure about anything, please ask at your establishment. 3 Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 THE PRISON LIBRARIES GROUP MISSION STATEMENT The Prison Libraries Group serves the interest of all members concerned with the provision of library services to prison communities. The group is committed to improving the quality of the service whilst raising the profile of prison libraries. Membership of the group is open to all members of CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals). The group offers Group Only Membership – this is an opportunity for people working in prison libraries to join the Prison Libraries Group without being members of CILIP. To be a Group Only Member, you must be currently employed in a prison library and must not have been a member of CILIP for 12 months. Group Only Membership is possible for a maximum of two years. After that time, it is only possible to be a member of the group through full CILIP membership. The group is committed to providing training for its members and for others working in the sector. The group holds training events and provides online training resources for members including the Prison Libraries Training Pack which is regularly revised and updated and is provided free to members. (Non-members can purchase copies of the pack). The group administers a bursary scheme through which members may apply for funding to attend relevant training. Information is also on the CILIP website, and the group sends monthly updates through CILIP to its members. The Prison Libraries Group has worked to improve the standards of library provision in penal establishments and works closely with statutory agencies and other partner organisations to position prison libraries as a key stakeholder within the criminal justice system. 4 Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 OUR PROMISE TO YOU The PrLG committee will work actively in the following areas: PROMOTION: we will promote the importance of prison libraries within the prison service, the criminal justice system and generally throughout the library and learning sectors. POLICY: we will be a focus for prison library policy development, and will respond to requests for consultation in related areas. ADVICE: where possible, we will provide professional advice for our members and for others engaged in prison library services. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD): we will work with CILIP to encourage professional development. We will provide training opportunities and a training pack and other online resources for those working in prison library services. NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATION: in addition to providing training opportunities, we will maintain web space for our membership. We will send regular email updates to our members and liaise between our membership and CILIP. ADVOCACY: we will advocate on behalf of prison library services and our membership at every opportunity. PUBLISHING: we will publish information regularly on our web pages and will link to relevant content from other organisations. INVOLVEMENT: we will encourage our membership to be involved in the profession and in the Prison Libraries Group. 5 Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 IMPACT STATEMENT CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the professional body that represents all library and information workers in the United Kingdom. Under the terms of its Royal Charter, the Institute has a duty to promote high quality library and information services and to advise government, employers and others on all aspects of library and information provision. CILIP believes that prisoner rehabilitation makes social and economic sense. Prison libraries and prison library staff play a key part in this by helping to improve prisoner literacy skills, encouraging a love of reading for pleasure and improving basic online skills Prison libraries and professional library staff offer a neutral environment for prisoners outside of the formal education and learning provision within the prison. A good professionally managed prison library can: • Enable prisoners to develop new skills and improve existing skills • Help prisoners to locate, understand and communicate appropriate information • Provide opportunities for prisoners to maintain family links through reading projects • Enhance the well-being and raise the self-esteem and aspirations of prisoners • Mirror the service offered by public libraries and enable prisoners to develop the library habit during their sentence and after release The prison library offers a safe and neutral space and a calm environment where prisoners can engage with reading and formal and informal learning. The prison library is also a source of information. Prison library staff work with prisoners to help them locate, retrieve, understand and communicate appropriate information. Reading for pleasure increases relaxation and can reduce stress. It is also a safe way in which to explore and understand human relationships. Prison library staff can deliver reading for pleasure for prisoners at all ability levels. Reading for pleasure can have a positive effect on mental health. Prison library staff can work with health professionals to recommend reading that will help prisoners learn more about and manage their mental health. A prisoner’s engagement with the prison library can lead to: Improved self-esteem Increased involvement in learning Increased employment opportunities Improved opportunities to maintain family links Improved literacy, articulacy and social skills 6 Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 THE PRISON LIBRARIES GROUP COMMITTEE The group committee is elected every two years and meets at least four times per year. Dates of committee meetings and committee proceedings are published on the group website. Any member of the group may attend a committee meeting as an observer – please contact the Hon. Secretary of the group if you wish to do this. (Please note: the group is not able to fund travel expenses for members to attend meetings). The group holds an Annual General Meeting, usually in May. The committee produces an annual business plan, outlining key priorities for the coming year. This includes a detailed financial plan. The business plan can be found on the group website. Annual accounts are submitted to CILIP each January and are approved at the AGM. Committee members participate in CILIP panels and forums where appropriate and actively seek opportunities to work collaboratively with other CILIP member networks. We endeavour to send a committee member to the annual CILIP conference. Contacting the committee: A full list of committee members and their contact details can be found on the website. Alternatively, you can contact the group at [email protected] The group website is at: www.cilip.org.uk/prlg You can also follow the group on Twitter: @prisonlibraries 7 Prison Libraries Training Pack 2018 LOCAL DIRECTORY If you are newly appointed, it may be helpful to ask someone to fill in the following checklist for you. Job titles may vary for each establishment. TITLE/POSITION NAME PHONE NO. Regional Custody Manager ………………………………… ………………………… No.1 Governor/Director ………………………………… ………………………… Deputy Governor ………………………………… ………………………… Governor’s Secretary ………………………………….